San Francisco, CA

CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

EIN 94-6122446

Arts, Culture & Heritage Cultural Heritage & Traditions AAPI communities

Mission

CHSA is dedicated to the documentation, study, and presentation of Chinese American history through exhibitions, collections, publications, and public programs.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

Claim this page Visit chsa.org

About CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

The Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) is a San Francisco–based 501(c)(3) museum, archive, and research center founded in 1963 that documents and interprets the Chinese American experience. CHSA operates a public museum in San Francisco’s Chinatown, maintains archival collections used by scholars and educators, publishes a scholarly journal, and presents rotating exhibitions and community programs. In the past 2–3 years CHSA has remained actively engaged in public-facing projects and partnerships, including major exhibitions (notably the We Are Bruce Lee exhibition), media consultations and documentary sponsorship, and a community-led Bruce Lee statue initiative announced in March 2025. CHSA continues to receive public and private grant support to expand programming and increase access to Chinese American history for diverse audiences.

Notable achievements

Established national archive and museum

Founded in 1963 and grown into one of the country’s longest-running organizations devoted to Chinese American history; maintains museum galleries and an archival collection that support research, exhibitions, and educational programming.

We Are Bruce Lee exhibition & statue project

Produced the long-form 'We Are Bruce Lee' exhibition and in 2025 launched a community-driven project to commission and install a Bruce Lee statue in San Francisco’s Chinatown, positioning CHSA as a convener for public history and civic memorial work.

Scholarly publishing and media partnerships

Publishes the annual journal Chinese America: History & Perspectives, sponsors documentary work (including a recent documentary project on music journalist Ben Fong Torres), and provides historical consultation to media and cultural institutions.

At a glance

Total assets: $3.1M
Annual revenue: $657K
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 94-6122446
Location: San Francisco, CA
Website: chsa.org
On Mahalo since: April 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Rated by Charity Navigator (three-star/approx. 80% beacon score) for accountability and finance metrics.

Grant-supported programming, including recent awards and project support from the California Arts Council to expand exhibitions and community engagement.

Consistent local and national media coverage and partnerships with major cultural organizations for exhibitions and historical consultation.

Is this your organization?

Claim this page to keep it current — add your logo, publish campaigns, and reach the donors and advisors discovering you on Mahalo.

Claim this page